Chris Hemsworth: India’s Into Surfboards Already!

04/09/2013 at 01:00 PM ET

Chris Hemsworth Elsa Pataky Oceana Ball
A. Ariani/Splash News Online

Chris Hemsworth has shown over and over he has a soft spot for his baby girl, India Rose. But he’s not afraid to let her experience the wild side of life.

“She has an attraction to the surfboards in the house. She loves crawling on them,” the actor, 29,  said Monday night at The Inaugural Oceana Ball at Christie’s in New York City.

Hemsworth, along with his Australian brothers Liam and Luke, were passionate surfers growing up Down Under.

“We spent a lot of time in the water,” he said. But “[India’s not swimming] just yet. She’s only 11 months!”

Still, he vows he’ll start teaching her to surf— as soon as “she learns how to walk.”

India’s mom and Hemsworth’s wife, actress Elsa Pataky, says their daughter is a natural in the water.

“She really loves surfboards,” Pataky, 36, says. “We’ve taken her into the ocean already and she loves it.”

But Hemsworth was quick to point out that his daughter goes into the water only “with support — not on her own!”

Both parents are advocates of Oceana’s push to protect the sea, and Pataky says, “It’s really important to us as a family, and as parents, to preserve the ocean. It’s so beautiful, and so important.”

Adds Hemsworth, “Especially as a parent, you start to see how important it is.”

— Sara Hammel

FILED UNDER: News , Parenting

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Showing 11 comments

Jen DC on April 9th, 2013

why wait to teach her to swim? now’s the best time: she’s fearless, willing to have you hold her and guide her, and for safety’s sake, it’s the smart thing to do! “only 11 months!” i was in swim classes as soon as i started to walk (9 months) and was jumping from the high dive by 3 years old. (amazing everyone at the public pool. i made my cousins a lot of money being able to swim and willing to jump from the board!)

lovely123 on April 9th, 2013

She’s 36? Wow she looks great.

Julianna on April 10th, 2013

I love how devoted Chris is to his family, it just makes him way hotter. Lucky Elsa!

Cindy on April 10th, 2013

@ Jen DC – He said he is waiting to teach her to surf (not swim) when she can walk. But the baby is in the water with then although she cannot swim yet.

Seriously on April 10th, 2013

Why yes, “Lovely”, 36-year old women can be hot too. Good grief.

Seriously on April 10th, 2013

Shockingly, yes, “Lovely”, 36-year old women can be smoking hot.

lar on April 10th, 2013

I would climb that like a tree!

Charli on April 11th, 2013

they are a lovely couple.

amy on April 11th, 2013

Could he be any more awesome?

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